Black Belt Community Foundation announced founding Chief Executive Officer and President Felecia Lucky plans to step down from her role, effective September 30, 2025.
The board has unanimously appointed Black Belt native Christopher Spencer, the foundation’s Chief Community Engagement Officer, to succeed Lucky.
Lucky, who has led the foundation throughout its entire 21-year history, is leaving to become President and CEO at the F.B. Heron Foundation.
Under Lucky’s leadership, BBCF has become a powerful force for change in one of the nation’s most economically challenged regions through strategic investments and innovative community-led initiatives.
During her tenure, BBCF has deployed nearly $100 million into the Black Belt through partnerships with more than 200 regional nonprofit organizations throughout the Black Belt and with the guidance of 150 Community Associates.
The foundation has also formed partnerships with some of the nation’s leading philanthropic and academic institutions — including the Ford Foundation; Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation; F.B. Heron Foundation; Alabama Power Foundation; the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; NOVO Foundation; The Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation; Black Voters Matter Fund; The Educational Foundation of America; Wellspring Philanthropic Fund; Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; The Daniel Foundation of Alabama; The Regions Foundation; Protective Life Foundation; Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation; U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities; Trust for Civic Life; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama; HOPE Enterprise Corporation/HOPE Credit Union; Office of Head Start; the Alabama State Council on the Arts; the University of Alabama; the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Auburn University; and Tuskegee University.
Spencer, a native of Bellamy, began working with BBCF more than 20 years ago as a Community Associate and has spent his adult life serving his country and his community. He was awarded the prestigious Gen. Douglas McArthur Leadership Award as an Army officer during Operation Desert Storm and is Pastor of the St. Matthew- Weston Missionary Baptist Church of Boligee.
Before joining BBCF, he worked in education at the Sumter County Board of Education and as Director for Resource Development for Community Engagement at the University of Alabama. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Sumter County Commission and was recently appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey as a Trustee for Alabama State University.
He’ll assume his new role on October 1, 2025.
